Iron lifter



Nov. 15, 1966 E. E. FOSTER IRON LIFTER Filed Feb. 10, 1964 INVENTOR. EDW/A/ E. FOSTER ATTORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,284,933 IRON LIFTER Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex., assignor to Majik-Ironers, Inc., Austin, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,884 11 Claims. (CI. 38-30) This invention relates to iron lifters and more particularly to apparatus for supporting a hand iron on an ironing board for vertical movement between an inoperative position above the material on the board and an ironing position in which it rests on the material on the board.

Iron lifters of the general type to which the present invention relates have heretofore been proposed in which the iron and its supporting linkage are moved bodily between the operative and inoperative positions by means of an electric motor. This type of apparatus tends to become relatively complex and expensive.

In an effort to reduce costs it has been proposed in my Patent No. 3,180,041, to utilize steam pressure or pressure developed by heating a trapped body of air in the iron itself to overcome a lifting spring so that the iron can be lowered to bring its full weight to bear on the material being ironed. The present invention relates to further simplifications and improvements in iron lifters of the type generally disclosed in said patent and has for its principal object the provision of means to overcome further problems encountered therein. One of these problems is that the iron handle tends to be excessively heated, particularly with the iron left in a horizontal supported position with the heat turned on when it is not in use Another is that in the previous irons the water valve of a steam iron could remain open when the iron is elevated and not in use. Still another is that the previous irons had no provisions for spraying water on the material ahead of the iron which is frequently desirable.

It is another object of the invention to provide an iron lifter in which the iron is normally raised above the board by a spring and the spring force is overcome by a pressure responsive device operated by compressed air.

According to a feature of the invention, the iron and its supporting linkage are detachably connected to a support on the ironing board and air is supplied by a compressor on the ironing board connected to the iron through conduits including a detachable coupling in the detachable connection.

Still another object is to provide an iron lifter in which the iron handle is cooled by circulation of air therethrough. Preferably all of the air supplied by the compressor not actually required to operate the lifting mechanism is discharged into the hollow handle of the iron to circulate therethrough and to cool the handle.

Still another object is to provide an iron lifter in which the water valve to control steaming of the iron is automatically closed by the lifting mechanism whenever it is operated to raise the iron to its elevated position.

A still further object is to provide an iron lifter in which the compressed air utilized to operate the lifting mechanism is also used to operate a water spray device on the iron.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ironing apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the electrical and air connections from the source of power and compressor to the iron; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an iron embodying the invention.

3,284,933 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a complete ironing apparatus, including a conventional ironing board 10, supported on legs 11, which maybe hinged to move from a stored position flat against the undersurface of the board to an elevated position, as shown, in which they support the board at a desired level for ironing. The board may be of any conventional construction, but in addition to the usual board structure is provided adjacent to one end with a power unit indicated generally at 12 which contains a small air compressor and an electric motor for driving the same. In addition, a tubular support bar 13 is secured to the board to extend from said one end thereof to approximately midway of its length and through which compressed air and electrical connections may run. The support bar 13 terminates at its free end in a detachable socket member 14 in which an iron supporting linkage is adapted to be detachably mounted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the iron supporting linkage comprises a main arm 15 pivoted at its lower end on a coupling part which may be detachably mounted on the coupling part 14 for swiveling movement about a vertical axis and for tilting movement about a horizontal axis. A forearm 16 is pivoted to the upper end of the arm 15 on a horizontal elbow joint and terminates at its free end in a socket from which an iron may be supported for universal movement. The main arm and forearm are interconnected in the manner more particularly described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,834,586 or 2,648,146 so that the free end of the forearm will be constrained to move in a plane parallel to and spaced above the upper surface of the ironing board. An iron, as best shown in FIG. 3 and as generally designated at 17 in FIG. 1, is adapted to be suspended from the free end of the forearm 16 for vertical movement from a raised position above the ironing board to a lowered position for ironing material on the board. The iron, as shown, comprises the usual sole plate 18 which is electrically heated by conventional heating elements, not shown. A hollow handle structure 19 is secured to the iron body and is formed with a tubular extension 21 which projects upwardly from the handle, preferably at the forward end thereof, where it will not interfere with normal handling of the iron. A lifting arm 22 is pivoted to the upper end of the extension 21 and carries a ball element 23 fitting into a spherical socket on the free end of the forearm 16 to connect the iron thereto for universal pivotal movement.

The lifting arm 22 is normally urged to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 by a tension spring 24 secured at one end to a pivot 25 on the lifting arm spaced from its pivotal connection at 26 to the extension and at its other end to a pin 27 near the lower end of the extension. For swinging the lifting arm to the full line position of FIG. 3, a thrust rod 28 is pivoted to the pin 25 and extends into the hollow iron handle where its lower end is pivoted at 29 to a lever 31. The lever 31 is pivoted at 32 near the heel of the iron and in its central portion is connected to a pressure responsive diaphragm 33 in the iron handle. Preferably for convenience, although not necessarily, the diaphragm 33 is sealed around its edges to the upper part of a water tank 34 in the lower part of the iron body.

The diaphragm 33 is adapted to be exposed to compressed air at its lower surface to raise the diaphragm thereby pushing upwardly on the thrust rod 29 and counteracting the effect of the spring 24 so that the lifting arm 22 will move to the full line position shown. At this time, the iron will be lowered onto material on the ironing board and will rest on the material with its full weight so that the material may properly be ironed. For this purpose, compressed air from the power unit 12 is supplied to the iron. As seen in FIG. 2, the power unit 12 includes an air pump 35..driven by an. electric motor- 36- which may be powered from the usual household current source, as indicated by the plug 37. The pump 35 forces compressed air through a conduit 38 which preferably extends throu-gh the bar 13 int-o the detachable coupling part 14. This coup-ling part may be constructed, as generally disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 338,932, filed January 20, 1964, now Patent No. 3,251,147 but is provided with both an air coupling and with an electrical socket. The coupling part 14 receives a complementary coupling part similar to the coupling part shown in my co-pending application referred to above and which when placed in the coupling part 14 will establish both electrical and air connections therebetween. Electrical wires 39 and a flexible air hose 41 may extend from the complementary coupling part through the main arm and forearm 16 and may be conducted from a point adjacent to the free end of the forearm to the iron. The main arm 15, as shown in FIG. 2, is pivoted on a horizontal axis to the upper end of a short shaft 42 which is supported for rotation about a vertical axis in bearing members 43 carried by the cornplementary coupling part. iron linkage and iron can be completely removed from the board and the support bar for separate storage and can easily be mounted simply by connecting the cooperating coupling parts when the iron is to be used.

The compressed air suppliedto the iron is taken in to a conduit 44 near the heel of the iron and isconducted through a conduit 45 in the iron handle to a valve 46. A conduit 47 leads from the valve to the space beneath the diaphragm 33 so that whenever the valve is open compressed air will be supplied to the diaphragm to move the lifting arm 22 and lower the arm to its ironing position.

The valve 46 is manually controlled by means of. a control lever 48 pivoted at the rear of the iron handle and overlying the iron handle. A spring 49 normally urges the handle upward but when the iron handle is grasped in the usual manner the lever 48 will be moved downwardly to operate the valve. For this purpose the free end of the lever 48 is connected through an offset link 51 with an operating lever 52 for the valve. The parts are so arranged that when the lever 48 is-pressed downwardly to the position shown, the valve 46 will be open and when the lever is released the spring 49 will raise it to close the valve 46.

When the valve 46 is closed or when it is open and after the diaphragm 33 has been raised the air pump will continue to supply air to the iron which air is used according to the present invention for cooling the handle. For this purpose a short conduit 53 provided with a With this construction, the V mately the position shown to release the valve 56 so that it is free to open. However, when the lifting arm is moved to the dotted line position shown, the collar 59 will engage the yoke 58 and close the valve 56 regardless of the position of the normal control means therefor.

The valve 56 is controlled manually so that the iron can be operated as a steam iron or as a dry iron, as desired. For this purpose a control lever 61 is pivotally mounted in the top of the iron handle with its upper end projecting through an opening in the iron handle for easy access by the operator. The lower end of the lever 61 is connected through a link 62 to the valve rod 56. Preferably the connection between rod 62 and the valve rod 56 is a vertically slidable connection including a stop collar 63 on the rod 62 with the rod 62 extending through the yoke 58 and being provided with a spring tending to raise the valve rod into engagement with the stop collar. With the lever 61 in the position shown, the rod 62 is raised so that the valve 56 can open to permit water to flow from the tank 34 to the iron sole plate for steaming. If the lever 61 is turned clockwise it will force the rod 62 downwardly thereby pressing the valve rod downward to hold the valve in its closed position so that the iron may operate as a dry iron.

According to another feature of the invention, the compressed air supplied to the iron is also utilized to produce a spray. As shown, a spray nozzle 64 is mounted near the toe of the iron in the iron body to direct a spray of water in advance of the iron. A tube 65 extends from the spray nozzle into the tank 34 for supplying water to the spray nozzle and .air is supplied through a similar tube 66 thereto. The tube 66 communicates with a tube 67 opening into the upper surface of the tank 34 and connected to the conduit through a. valve 68. The valve 68 is normally closed, but is adapted to be opened by a button 6-9 projecting through the top of the iron handle.

Whenever the button 69 is depressed the valve 6 8 will open to supply air under pressure both to the top of the tank 34 and through the tube 66 to the nozzle 64. By

pressure relief valve 54 is connected to the conduit 44 and opens into the hollow iron handle near the heel of the iron. When the pressure in the conduit exceeds the value .at which the valve 54 will open the compressed air will be discharged from the conduit through the short conduit 53 into the handle and will flow through the handle to discharge at suitable openings near the front of the iron to maintain the handle cool.

The-water in the tank 34 is utilized to produce steam in the usual manner for steam irons. For this purpose, a nozzle is provided in the lower end of the tank 34-to conduct water from the tank onto the sole plate of the iron where it will be heated and converted into steam. The nozzle 55 is controlled by a valve 56 having :an elongated stem extending through a guide tube '57 'in thetank which is formed as a continuation of the nozzle and terminating at its upper end in a yoke 58 which straddles the push rod 28. The pushirod 28 carries a collar 59 engageable with the yoke to "press it downwardly thereby to push the valve-56 downwardlytoits closed position. The collar 59 is so placed thatwhen the lifting arm; 22 is moved to the full line position of FIGURE 3 with the iron in ironing position it moves upwardly to approxipressurizing the tank water therein will be forced through the tube 66 to the nozzle and will be broken up into a fine spray by air supplied to the nozzle through the tube 66 i By the present invention, all of the mechanism necessary for controlling raising and lowering of the iron may be contained in the iron itself and may be powered by compressed air supplied from a relatively small compressor. In this way, the mechanisms heretofore provided for raising and lowering of the iron are greatly simplified and the expense thereof is reduced. In addition, the compressed air may be utilized for producing a spray and "also for cooling the iron handle so that it will not become overheated if the iron should be left turned on over an extended period of time.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that it is illustrative only and is not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An iron lifter comprising, in combination with an iron having a hollow handle and a support, means suspending the iron from the support for vertical movement of the iron relative to the support, a spring acting on the connecting means to raise the iron relative to the support, pressure responsive means connected to the connecting means to oppose the spring thereby to lower the iron, a compressed air supply conduit connected to the pressure responsive means to supply air under pressure thereto for actuating the same, a control valve in the conduit, an operating member for the valve mounted on the iron for manipulation by the user of the iron, and a discharge connection from the conduit opening into the interior of the iron handle for circulating air through he i on h ndle to cool it.

2. The iron lifter of claim 1 in which the discharge connection includes a pressure responsive valve to open only when the pressure in the conduit exceeds the normal operating pressure for the pressure responsive means.

3. An iron lifter comprising in combination with an iron having a hollow handle and a support, a lever pivoted at one end on the iron and having means at its other end pivotally to connect it to the support, a spring connected to the lever urging it in a direction to raise the iron, pressure responsive means on the iron connected to the lever to move it in a direction to lower the iron, a compressed air supply conduit connected to the pressure responsive means, a control valve in the conduit, an operating member for the valve mounted on the iron to be operated when the iron is grasped, and a discharge connection from the conduit opening into the iron handle to circulate air therethrough to cool it.

4. An iron lifter comprising in combination with an iron having a hollow handle and a support, a lever pivoted at one end on the iron and having means at its other end pivotally to connect it to the support, a spring connected to the lever urging it in a direction to raise the iron, pressure responsive means on the iron connected to the lever to move it in a direction to lower the iron, a compressed air supply conduit connected to the pressure responsive means, a shut otf valve in the conduit, an operating lever for the shut off valve mounted on the iron to be operated when the iron is grasped, and a pressure relief valve connected to the conduit upstream from the valve and opening into the hollow handle.

5. An iron lifter comprising in combination an iron having a hollow handle, a tank in the iron adapted to contain water, a support, means suspending the iron from the support including a part movable in the iron handle and a spring urging the iron upward, pressure responsive means in the iron connected to said part and acting in opposition to the spring thereby to lower the iron, a compressed air supply conduit connected to the pressure responsive means, a control valve in the conduit, an operating member for the control valve mounted on the iron handle to be operated when the iron is grasped, a spray device at the front of the iron connected to the conduit and to the tank to produce a water spray, and a second valve controlling communication of the conduit with the spray device and the tank.

6. An iron lifter comprising in combination an iron having a hollow handle, a tank in the iron adapted to contain water, a support, means suspending the iron from the support including a part movable in the iron handle and a spring urging said part in a direction to move the iron upward, pressure responsive means in the iron connected to said part and acting in opposition to the spring thereby to lower the iron, a compressed air supply conduit connected to the pressure responsive means, a control valve in the conduit, an operating member for the 6 control valve mounted on the iron handle to be operated when the iron is grasped, a valve to control discharge of water from the tank for conversion to steam, and means on said part to engage and close the last named valve when the suspending means is moved in a direction to raise the iron.

7. The iron lifter of claim 6 including manually operable means to close the last named valve independently of the suspending means.

8. The iron lifter of claim 6 including a pressure relief valve connected to the conduit and opening into the hollow handle of the iron.

9. An iron lifter comprising in combination an ironing board, a support member rigidly secured to the ironing board, an iron supporting linkage carried by the support member and terminating in an end movable in a plane parallel to the ironing board, an iron, means suspending the iron from said end for vertical movement toward and away from the board, a spring acting on the suspending means to raise the iron, 9. pressure responsive device connected to the suspending means to oppose the spring and lower the iron, an air compressor mounted on the board, a conduit connecting the air compressor to the pressure responsive device, a valve mounted on the iron to close the conduit, and an operating member for the valve mounted on the handle of the iron.

10. The iron lifter of claim 9 in which the iron supporting linkage is detachably mounted on the support member and the detachable mounting includes a detachable coupling for the conduit.

11. An iron lifter comprising in combination, an iron, a tank in the iron adapted to contain water, a support, means suspending the iron from the support for vertical movement including a part movable to one position to raise the iron and to a second position to lower the iron, means controllable by an operator to move said part thereby to raise and lower the iron, a valve to control discharge of water from the tank into the iron for conversion into steam, manual means to operate said valve, and means on said part to engage and close the valve when said part is moved to its said one position to raise the iron regardless of the operation of the manual means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,165,541 7/1939 Foster 3878 2,589,939 3/1952 Haverbat 38-30 2,648,146 8/1953 Foster 3830 2,834,568 5/1958 Foster. 3,180,041 4/1965 Foster 3830 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

' PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner. 

1. AN IRON LIFTER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION WITH AN IRON HAVING A HOLLOW HANDLE AND A SUPPORT, MEANS SUSPENDING THE IRON FROM THE SUPPORT FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE IRON RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT, A SPRING ACTING ON THE CONNECTING MEANS TO RAISE THE IRON RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT, PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CONNECTING MEANS TO OPPOSE THE SPRING THEREBY TO LOWER THE IRON, A COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLY CONDUIT CONNECTED TO THE PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEANS TO SUPPLY AIR UNDER PRESSURE THERETO FOR ACTUATING THE SAME, A CONTROL VALVE IN THE CONDUIT, AN OPERATING MEMBER FOR THE VALVE MOUNTED ON 